Introduction to Sherpa culture-Cost, Distance, Itinerary, In Nepal

Meet our agent and transfer to the hotel upon arrival at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. After checking in, receive a briefing on the tour and spend the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, we visit many historical and spiritual UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu. We visit Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, and Bouddhanath, one of the world's largest stupas. After the excursion, we meet fellow travelers at Himalayan Glacier's headquarters.

We'll be transferred to TIA's domestic terminal after breakfast for an early morning flight to Lukla. We arrive at Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla after flying above the stunning green and white mountains. This is one of the world's most picturesque air routes, concluding with a landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains. We meet our other crew members when we arrive in Lukla, and after some packing and preparations, we begin our journey through the wealthy settlement of Lukla till we reach Phakding. We only have a short hike today to help with acclimatization. If you want to do something different, we can take a side journey to a local monastery. Phakding is where you'll spend the night.

After breakfast, we stroll through gorgeous pine trees before continuing down the Dudh Koshi River to Namche Bazaar, where our nature-filled tour concludes. We come across the gleaming Mt. Thamserku (6,608m) on our right after over an hour of walking, and we also enjoy the serenity of pine, fir, and juniper forests along the way. We might even catch a peek of Mt. Everest peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse range if the weather is clear. We keep going till we reach the Sagarmatha National Park entry, Namche Bazaar, the gateway to Mt. Everest and the region's primary trading center. On this day, we will cross five suspension bridges, the highest of which is the Hillary Bridge. The walk from Hillary Bridge to Namche Bazaar is steep. Namche Bazaar is where you'll spend the night.

This day is dedicated to acclimatization. Instead of sitting idle, health professionals encourage us to be active and walk around even on rest days. This day has been set aside for a few options. We may either take a stroll around Namche's charming villages to meet the Sherpa people and learn about their rich culture, or we can hike up to the Everest View Hotel for a close-up view of Mount Everest. Trekkers can visit the local museum at Namche village, or upon returning from the Everest View Hotel climb, see exhibits on the area's native flora and wildlife, as well as the history of the Mount Everest region.

Our trail follows the Bhote Koshi River valley westward. The Himalayan views, which include Kongde Ri (6187m), Khumbu Yul La (5765m), and Kusum Kanguru (6,373m), are breathtaking. The first village we travel through is Phorte, where Sir Edmund Hillary's Himalayan Trust erected a tree plantation. We keep walking down the balcony path. We cross a bridge after descending to the river before climbing steeply to Thame, which is located at an important junction along the old primary trade route to and from Tibet via the Nangpa La. (pass). Thame is where we will spend the night.

We make our way up to Syangboche's famed airstrip. The Everest View Hotel, located just above the airstrip, is a Japanese project to construct a luxurious hotel with spectacular views of the world's highest mountains. The Himalayas encircle the Khumjung valley, including Kongde, Thamserku, and the frightful Khumbila. We can visit the Edmund Hillary School and the Khumjung Monastery (renowned for hosting the Yeti's head!) while in Khumjung village. Khumjung is where you'll spend the night.

We climb from Khumjung to Phortse. We enjoy the magnificent views of Phortse, Cholatse, and Taboche, as well as Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kangtanga, as we pass the lower slopes of Khumbila. Phortse hamlet is located in the Khumbu region, south of Mt. Everest, and is off the beaten path. Phortse is where you'll spend the night.

The hike to Pangboche begins with a steep but brief climb, followed by a steady ascent along a ridge. On the route, we stop at the Pangboche Gomba to witness the Lama Sangwa Dorje's footsteps. Like a big crescent moon, the residences of Pangboche nestle gracefully above the terraced fields. Pangboche is where you'll spend the night.

From Pangboche, we travel east to the Everest Base Camp main trail. Then we descend to Tengboche, a hamlet that is home to the world-famous Tengboche monastery, the Everest region's largest monastery. It is draped with a magnificent 360-degree view of the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku, and is located within the Sagarmatha National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site of "of universal importance"). We arrive at three o'clock because the monastery opens at three o'clock. We could even be able to witness a religious ceremony if we're lucky. Tengboche is where you will spend the night.

We descend from Tengboche across a slope carpeted in rhododendron and juniper trees. Our trail follows the Dudh Koshi gorge, descending quickly through the pine forests until reaching Sansa, an important trail junction in the region, after crossing the prayer flag-draped bridge over the Dudh Koshi River. The trail now winds through multiple bends as it clings to the steep wooded slope. We arrive at Namche Bazaar after passing through a Chorten. Namche Bazaar is where you'll spend the night.

Because the trail dips steeply, we must go with caution as our weak legs battle the rocky terrain. The trail becomes more level and natural after crossing the suspension bridges over the fast flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries. After arriving in Lukla, we stretch our tired legs and reminisce over the previous few weeks. Lukla is where you will spend the night.

After a hard mountain climb, we catch an early morning flight to Kathmandu. We can rest or do souvenir shopping after we arrive in Kathmandu. We can go exploring in other parts of Kathmandu today if we want to. Our tour guides can assist you with souvenir purchasing as well as sightseeing. In the evening, we will enjoy a farewell meal to commemorate the successful conclusion of our voyage.

Today is the last day of your Nepal adventure! There's nothing else to do but exchange emails with your other travelers and organize your images. Approximately 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight, a representative from Himalayan Glacier will transport you to the airport. You'll have plenty of time on the way home to plan your future excursion in Nepal's beautiful country.